OCEAN ISLE BEACH — Marion Stiles Hemphill, 90, peacefully passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. She was born March 20, 1930, in New Jersey, the daughter of the late Levi and Eleanor Stiles.
She is survived by her husband of 68-plus years, Carl Hemphill; five children, Susan, and her husband, Michael Keener, Ted Hemphill and Stephanie, Janet, and her husband, Ron Ambrose, Leigh Ann, and her husband, Wayne Ritter, and Teak, and his wife, Harriet Hemphill; and loving grandchildren, Jay, Carl, Ellen, Anna, Marc, Karla, Joe, Taylor and Jackson. Additionally, Marion had 14 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Ethan, Jeremy, Madison, Kaitlyn, Bradley, Daniel, Will, Ellis, Carlisle, Elizabeth, Daniel, Andrew and Millie. Marion also had many cousins as a member of the “Letson Clan,” and the family could trace their genealogy back to before the Revolutionary War.
After graduation from Merchantville High School, Marion attended Beaver College (now Acadia University) and graduated in 1952. She met Carl in Ocean City, New Jersey, where they both summered. After marrying Carl, they raised five children while being transferred from town to town every four years or so. Marion finally obtained a teaching certificate and taught art in the Ashtabula, Ohio, schools until her retirement. She and Carl retired to Ocean Isle Beach in 1990.
Marion was active in many civic organizations throughout her life and volunteered at the Ingram Planetarium, Museum of Coastal Carolina and other places when she was able. She was a member of Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Ocean Isle Beach, where she belonged to several groups. She loved to sing and play bridge.
Marion and Carl loved to travel. They took trips every summer with the family, and once the children were older, she and Carl set out on their own to travel the world. They especially loved cruising. Hers was a life well-lived.
Because of current conditions due to the pandemic, burial will be private. A memorial service may be planned sometime in the future.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the donor’s favorite charity or to Saint Luke Lutheran Church, 5869 Ocean Hwy. West, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469.
Share online condolences with the family at Brunswick Funeral Service.
